Sol and the others were standing in front of the bulletin board where the notices were posted. There was a new notice posted just after today's classes had ended. Most of the boys had the widest smiles on their faces and all of the girls had aggrieved expressions or reluctant smiles on their faces. But all of them had one expression in common- shock.

"All Defense Against Dark Arts Classes Have Been Postponed Till The End Of The School Year!"

"Hey, hey! What do they mean? How can they just stop Defense Against Dark Arts classes?"

"What'll happen to Professor Lockhart?"

"They're conspiring against him!"

"What did Professor Lockhart do to deserve this?"

Of course, all these questions and grievances were voiced out by the girls who were enamored by Lockhart. As for the boys-

"Finally! They stopped this torture of a class!"

"Hell yeah, we won't have to see that loon anymore!"

"Do you think the school has nothing better to do than conspire against that incompetent sod?"

"Hallelujah! Finally, Lockhart has died!"

Sneers and jeers resounded within the halls. Many students speculated what happened and those who mocked the situation were locked in an argument with the girls. Sol calmly watched the show even though he had a grin on his face. Meanwhile, Lockhart was listening from around the corner, a crystal clear tear streamed out of the corner of his eye down his face.

In another corner of the castle was the Headmaster's office. If one were to go inside the room, they wouldn't find a single soul. But inside the office was another door which when opened lead to 2 doors- one to the left and one to the right. Inside the right door was Dumbledore, who stood in the middle of the room. He looked up at four portraits that were hung high up on the wall. These portraits belonged to the four founders of Hogwarts- Godric Gryffindor, Rowena Ravenclaw, Helga Hufflepuff, and Salazar Slytherin.

Gryffindor had fiery-red hair and beard both of which were tied up in a warrior's braid. He was in a suit of armor with a lion's crest on it. His facial features were rugged. In his hands was a sliver sword inlaid with rubies. Ravenclaw had long, straight black hair. She was wearing a blue one-piece dress that fell to her feet and kept her shoulders exposed. Her features were sharp and gave her a regal look. She had a silver tiara on her forehead. Hufflepuff had long brown hair done into two braids. She was wearing a yellow farmer girl dress. She had a round face and looked humble. There was a golden chalice in her hands. Slytherin wore a dark-green wizard robe. He had long white hair and a white beard. He had a sinister air about him. He had a gold locket around his neck which had a snake carving in an 'S' shape.

Dumbledore looked on as the four squabbled with each other or rather, the other three bickered with one another while Slytherin turns a deaf ear to them. He has long since been chewed out and has now aptly left the conversation. This has been going on for a few centuries and now Slytherin can't even care enough to argue. The other three finish talking as they start asking Dumbledore questions.

"Albus, have you found the Basilisk?" Gryffindor asks, well shouts.

"As I said, I have not," Dumbledore answer calmly.

"Do you have any leads?" Ravenclaw asked.

"Nothing substantial."

"What about the students? Are they safe?" Hufflepuff asked worriedly.

"For the time being, yes. I have asked the others to keep an eye on them."

The three portraits looked at Slytherin. "Salazar, do you know where your basilisk went?"

Slytherin turned around to look at Gryffindor like he was mentally deficient, "Fool! I am but a mere portrait! How would I know!?"

"Avert your eyes, Salazar! You have caused enough problems as it is," Ravenclaw growled. Hufflepuff looked slightly helpless, unable to bear the tension in the room.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Once Slytherin turned around with a hmph, Ravenclaw fell into deep thought. After a while, she clapped her hands. Of course, all of this happened inside her portrait. She looked at Dumbledore, "Albus, what about that Balor boy? He might know."

"I have asked him. He claims to not know."

Gryffindor grunted in annoyance, "This will not do! You can't let a Basilisk roam around inside the castle or worse, let it roam unimpeded in the world!"

"I agree," Hufflepuff added softly, "Think of the innocents."

"We must find a way!" Gryffindor slammed the table inside his portrait.

"Godric, stop making a fuss!" Ravenclaw reprimanded, "This matter needs to be thought through clearly. It is of grave importance!"

"Then, what do we do?" Hufflepuff asked helplessly.

"Haah~" Ravenclaw sighed. She then looked at Dumbledore, who was still calmly looking up at them, "You say you've already talked to the Balor boy? Recount the events."

"Very well." Saying that Dumbledore unhurriedly recounted what happened when Sol talked to him a few weeks back.

After hearing him, the four founders including Slytherin were a little stunned.

Bam!

Slytherin angrily stomped the floor beneath him, "That half-blood boy dares to question our rules!"

"C-Calm down, Salazar. It's not good to be angry," Hufflepuff attempted to calm him down.

"He seems a bit radical, wouldn't you say?" Ravenclaw remarked with interest gleaming in her eyes.

"Haha!" Gryffindor laughed uproariously, "That boy truly is a Gryffindor! Daring to speak like that to his Headmaster!"

"Yes, that boy truly is a Gryffindor! Utterly disrespectful and lacking in manners!" Slytherin made a snide remark.

"Salazar, you better shut your mouth!" Gryffindor immediately exploded.

"Shut it, you two!" Ravenclaw massaged her temples. She then looked at Dumbledore, "Albus, why don't you let that Balor boy meet us?"

Dumbledore's usually calm face finally saw some ripples. He asked once again just to be sure, "Are you sure? You haven't shown your faces in centuries. Will it be alright?"

"I'm affirmative," Ravenclaw ensured. "We might be able to get a better answer as to what happened in Salazar's chamber."

"I'd like to ask that half-blood boy how he dared to challenge our authority!" Slytherin added whilst gnashing his teeth.

"Yes, I'm quite interested in this boy as well!" Ravenclaw's face had an expectant expression.

"Agreed!" Gryffindor and Hufflepuff declared in unison.

"I see...then please await my return." Saying so, Dumbledore left the room, closing the door behind him. Outside the room, his brows furrowed.

I can only hope this meeting goes well.

----------------------------------------

Inside the Gryffindor common room, everyone was in a joyous mood. Well, everyone except the girls. Though some boys were trying to console the girls, the others were cheering and playing around as though England had won a World Cup. Sol was one of the few people not having fun. More appropriately, he was happy as hell but he had to keep it in because Katie was sulking right next to him.

"Now, now, don't be too sad! It's not like he's gone forever." So began Sol's attempt at consoling her.

Katie was still unresponsive.

"Lockhart's just going to stop teaching. It's not like he's going to stop writing. Maybe you'll meet him again someday." Katie finally showed signs of brightening up as Sol went on.

From behind, Cormac who was having a ball with the other boys tapped Sol on the shoulder. "What'll you do now that that loon's gone?"

"Ooh!" Sol sighed in relief, "Now that the fraud's gone, I'll guess we finally get to stop worrying whether or not we'll have to spend a week in the infirmary every time we finish a Defense Against Dark Arts class- keuk!"

Just as he had finished, he was sent a jab to the gut. He bent over and clutched his stomach. He looked up at Katie just to see her glaring at him.

"Hmph!" she scoffed before standing up and leaving for the girl's quarters.

Cormac patted his back, "Bad luck, man!"

"Get lost!" Sol waved his arm angrily. At that moment, the doors to the common room opened.

Tip! Tap! Tip!

Slow footsteps sounded throughout the room and the students stopped hollering and cheering when they saw the source. Professor McGonagall came into the room and surveyed the room. Anyone who met her gaze instinctively avoided eye contact. The professor looked around locked eyes with Sol. He immediately understood.

"Haah~" Sol sighed, "I understand." He then got up and followed Professor McGonagall out of the common room much to the curiosity and intrigue of the students.

As they walked through the halls, Professor McGonagall turned around and initiated a conversation, "My, my, Mr. Balor! I haven't even said anything and you're already following me!" Though it did initiate a conversation, what she said was basically teasing Sol.

Sol looked up at her with soulless eyes, "Professor, I wish I could joke with you but the Headmaster just won't leave me alone."

"The Headmaster has his own problems, it's just he needs your help to resolve them."

"Professor, there are two types of problems- my problems and your problems. Do not turn your problems into my problems."

Professor McGonagall was stunned for a few seconds before replying with a laugh, "Oh my, Mr. Balor! That's quite a self-centered view on life, wouldn't you say?"

"It is. But in this world, the word 'self' encompasses a lot of things. Those I do not care don't fall within my 'self'." Sol replied truthfully.

"I see, what does your 'self' encompass?" The Professor was intrigued.

"That is a conversation for another day because we have reached our destination."

The Professor turned around to see the Eagle statue in front of her, "O-Oh yes! Nautilus!"

Sol's shook his head. Like before, the statue shook before ascending upwards, revealing a set of spiral staircases.

The Professor stood to a side and looked at Sol. She gestured, "Up you go!"

Sol nodded and went up ahead. He walked one step at a time, at the top he saw the familiar wooden door. Taking a deep breath, he pulled the door and went inside.